146 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



Europe, particularly the vast Gothic edifices of the middle 

 ages, oak was the chief material for the interior. The rich 

 old wainscot, the innumerable carvings and decorations of 

 those days were executed in this material. In America 

 the vast pine forests produce a wood easily wrought, which 

 has in a great measure superseded the use of this fine tim- 

 ber, and the exportation of immense quantities of the 

 former to the eastern continent, has even in some degree 

 lessened its consumption abroad. But for certain purposes 

 where great strength and durability are required, the oak 

 will always take the precedence claimed for it by Evelyn.* 

 The English oak is probably rather superior in these quali- 

 ties to most of our American species ; but for ship-building 

 the Live oak of the southern states is not exceeded by any 

 timber in the world. 



Different species of Oak. This country is peculiarly 

 rich in various kinds of oak ; Michaux enumerating no less 

 than forty species indigenous to North America. Of these 

 the most useful are the Live oak (Quercus virens), of such 

 inestimable value for ship-building ; the Spanish oak (Q. 

 falcata) ; the Red oak (Q. rubra), etc., the bark of which 

 is extensively used in tanning ; the Quercitron or Black 

 oak, which is highly valuable as affording a fine yellow or 

 brown dye for wool, silks, paper-hangings, etc. ; and the 

 White oak, which is chiefly used for timber. We shall 



» The doors of the inner chapels of Westminster, it is stated, are of the same 

 age as the original building ; and as the original ancient edifice was founded 

 in 611 they must consequently be more than 1,200 years old. Professor Bur- 

 net, in his curious Amcnitatcs Quercincoi, observes, that many of the stakes 

 driven into the Thames by the Ancient Britons, to impede the progress of 

 Julius Cffisar, are in a good state of preservatioc, " having witlistood tha 

 destroyer time nearly 2,000 jaars." 



